10. A case knife was a knife covered in a case or sheath, used for cutting food.

11. Martha Washington had not been satisfied with some of the goods sent earlier by Mrs. Thorpe. On 15 July 1772 she wrote her, complaining about
these items and ordering more: “Madam, I cannt help writing to you in behalf of my daughter, Miss Custis, who together with myself, Imported some very hard bargains from you last year. Messrs Cary & Co. was wrote to for a handse Suit of Brussells Lace to Cost £20; in conse. of wch, she recd from you a pr of triple Ruffles, a Tucker, & Ruff set on plain joing Nett (such as can be bought in the Milliners Shops here at 3/6 pr yd) When, if you had even sent a Tippet & Cap wt. the other things I shd still have thot them Dr. These things have been shewn to sevl Ladies who are accustomd to such kind of Importns, & all agree, that they are most extravagently high chargd.

“I now sd for a Suit at the price of £40; wt. Lappets &ca but if you cant afford to sell a much better bargn in these, than yo. did in the last I shl hope that Mr Cary will try elsewhere, as I thk her Custm add. to my own is worth a little pains—Amg the othr things sent last y[ea]r for myself &ca were 5 Gauze Caps wt. Blond Lace bordrs at a G[uine]a each, when the same kd might have been bot in the Country at a much less price—I have now sent for 2 Caps for M. Custis, & 2 for myself of Mi[g]n[onet]t[e] lace & wd have them gentl but not expene; hers to Suit a Person of 16 yrs old mine one of 40 & I cant help addg that I thk it necesy that the last yrs Suit (wch ought to be retd if she cd do witht it in the meanwhile) shd be compld wt. a Tippet & Cap as it is sca[rc]e more than ½ a suit witht. I am Madam Yr ⟨illegible⟩ Hble Servt Martha Washington” (LB, in GW’s hand, DLC:GW). The goods that Martha Washington is complaining about were sent with Cary’s invoice of 3 Dec. 1771. The “Suit” and three of the caps were listed on the invoice of goods for Martha Parke Custis (DLC:GW).

More between these correspondents

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